Ricciardo giggles at reports that he upped his game since Webber announcement

3 July, 2013

Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo did himself no harm with a stellar showing during qualifying for the British Grand Prix, and then doing well in the race despite a bad start from fifth on the grid, but the Australian scoffs at suggestions that he has suddenly raised his game in the wake of Mark Webber’s decision to quit Formula 1 at the end of 2013 and thus make available a highly sought after race seat at Red Bull.

Ricciardo reflected on the weekend at Silverstone, “Obviously this was one of the best weekends of my F1 career – and I’m hearing quite a lot about how I’ve upped my game because Mark Webber’s leaving Red Bull Racing.”

“How do you respond to reporting like that? I think you just have to giggle and let it go,” he mused

He did however admit, “Excited that there’s a seat up for grabs? Definitely.”

“More motivated and trying harder than I have been before? Trust me, I’ve been trying as hard as I can since I got here – and the motivation’s been at maximum for as long as I can remember,” revealed the Toro Rosso driver.

Ricciardo added in his preview of the forthcoming German Grand Prix, “Waking up this morning (Tuesday) I’m a fairly happy man. It’s my birthday, I’m 24. I’ve got family in town and there’s a nice dinner on the cards. I think I’m even allowed a beer – but only one pint because we’ve got a race this weekend.” (GP247)